Matrix-setting and line-casting machine.



Patented July 15, 1913.

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4 mm K01:

H. DEGENEE. MATRIX SETTING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1911.

H. DEGENER. MATRIX SETTING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE. 11311101111011FILED JUNE 2, 1911.

1,067,592, Patented July 15, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

"2 3% ma am 31w l'am' UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH DEGENER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOE TO MERGENTHALER LINO-TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATRIX-SETTING AND LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1913.

Original application filed August 22, 1910, Serial No. 578,459. Dividedand this application filed June 8, 1911. Serial No. 632,009.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HEINRICH DEGENER, residing at 26 Hollmannstrasse,Berlin. German Empire, a subject of the King of Prussia, manager, havinginvented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating toMatrix-Setting and Line-Casting Machines, do hereby declare that thefollowing is an exact specification of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in line setting and castingmachines of the known Mergenthaler system, and has particular referenceto a device for bringing the matrices cast at different levels, for thepurpose of distributing into one plane by their lower edge.

This application is a division of an application filed by me August 22,1910, Serial No. 578,459.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example a constructionaccording to this invention.

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the device, Fig. 2 a-slightlymodified construction of the second elevator o-r lifting bar whichbrings the matrices to the distributer, Fig. 3 a portion of Fig. 1 of asomewhat different construction and Fig. 4s a cross section through Fig.3. Figs 57 show the well known lifting bar which conveys the matricesfrom the line breaking up point to the distributing point and whichaccording to this invention is arranged in a transversely adjustablemanner, in order thus to provide a greater amount of space between itsfront end and the casting carriage in its uppermost position. Fig. 5shows the lifting bar as well as the stop used for shifting the same, infront elevation, Figs. 6 and 7 are plans of Fig. 5 in the two differentpositions of the lifting bar.

After the matrix line has been cast, the matrices standing atvariouslevels must be brought into such position that they are all in one planeand can be pushed toward the distributer. Devices are already known inwhich the casting carriage is provided with fixed ledges intended tokeep the matrices at different levels, and in which the matrices arebrought into one plane by means of a curved guide only during thetransfer to the lifting bar carrying them to the distributer. Thesedevices have, however, the disadvantage that the matrices which must bebrought into the bottom position in a short distance, are broughtforward with their lugs along a steep curved guide and conse quently canbe easily damaged. The construction shown in Figs. 1-4 obviates thatdrawback by reducing by half the distance of travel in the verticaldirection, by partial upward and partial downward movement of thematrices. Moreover, means are provided for protecting the matrices fromturning over during the pushing of the same to the lifting bar.

The first elevator or casting carriage 36 which guides the matrices tothe casting point and thence to the distributing point, is provided inthe known manner with fixed ledges holding the matrices at differentlevels. At the beginning of the guide conduit 37, into which the liftingbar 38 is lowered from the top, is arranged a curved guide 39. Unlikeformer constructions, the guide is arranged in such manner that thematrices which are in the bottom position, are raised by the same, andthe matrices which are in the upper position, are lowered, so that afterpassing through the guide, the matrices are brought from the two levelsto a middle level. In that way the curves are rendered less steep, andconsequently the matrices are less worn. For assisting the guide 39acting on the bottom matrix lugs, another guide 40 may be providedengaging with the upper matrix lugs.

In order to afford the matrices a suitable guidance immediately on theirentering the guide conduit 87, the means shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may beadopted. In Fig. 2, the front portion ll of the lifting bar is arrangedin a vertically adjustable manner. It is guided by means of pins 42thereon engaging in slots in the main portion and falls by gravity intothe bottom position. Owing to its lower position, the arriving matrixcomes earlier into contact with the said front portion and is thusguided. In its further advance, the matrix then presses the part 41again upward. A further means for the better guidance of matrices arethe little blocks 44: shown in Figs. 3 and 4., secured to spring blades43 and moved into the interior of the guide conduit. They are roundedoff at the beginning, in order to enable the matrices to enter. On thematrices getting into the conduit they .seize them laterally and preventthem from turning over. The construction according to this invention canbe carried out either without one of the safety devices shown in Figs.2- 1, 01', if desired, with one or both of them.

Figs. 57 show other means for making the gradient of the curved guide asgradual as possible, for bringing the matrices with their foot edge intoone plane. This is effected by the known lifting bar conveying thematrices from the line distributing or breaking up place to thedistributing place, being made adjustable in front, and mak ing amovement to the right, just before it reaches its lowest position, inorder thus to provide a larger space between its front end and thecasting carriage which is in its highest position. The lifting bar 38itself is of known construction. It is pivoted to its operating lever bya hinge, so that it can rotate and at the same time move longitudinallyon the bolt 45. A spring 46 which rests on the one side against the boss47 of the lifting bar, and on the other side against the boss 48 of thelever for operating the lifting bar, has the tendency to press thelifting bar to the left, that is to say, into the position which it mustoccupy, when it arrives in its upper position at the distributer. On theside facing the compositor, the lifting bar is provided with a recesswith which a stop 49 can engage, secured to the machine frame. This stop49 is provided with a cam face 50 cooperating with the edge 51 of therecess. When the lifting bar is moved from its upper position into theposition in which it receives the new matrices (shown dotted in Fig. 5),the whole lifting bar is forced to the right owing to the edge 51sliding along the cam face of the stop 49, the spring 46 being at thesame time compressed. Thus, between the casting carriage and thebeginning of the lift ing bar, a large clearance is formed, utilized forgiving a smaller gradient to the curve bringing all the matrices intoone plane. During the raising of the lifting bar, the spring 45 bringsit back again to its original position, so that it adjoins thedistributing bar proper.

Although the various devices referred to have been illustrated anddescribed separately, this course having been adopted principally forpurposes of clarity, itwill be obvious that they do not necessarilyconstitute alternative or noncooperating features. Thus it will be notedthat in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the shiftable bar is illustrated withoutreference to the guide or channel wherein the matrices are transferredfrom the casting carriage thereto. Necessarily this guide or channel maybe or will be of the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, wherein areprovided the cam surfaces for moving partof the matrices in onedirection and part in the other, and also the spring blocks or supportswhich prevent the matrices from turning over. Similarly the shiftablebar may be, if desired, additionally provided with the verticallymovable nose or portion shown in Fig. 2. In other words, these variouselements may be employed separately if desired, or conjointly, andparticularly in the latter instance when it is desired to secure theextreme of care in transferring the matrices to the lifting bar, or toprovide a plurality of means, any one of which will effect the desiredresult in the event of a partial failure of one or more of the others.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed,

I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a matrix setting and line castmg machlne in comblnation anelevator transporting the matrix line to the distributing posltion,containing fixed ledges for holding machine in combination an elevatortransporting the matrix line to the distributing position, containingfixed ledges for holding the matrices in different levels and a liftingdevice transporting the matrix line to the distributer and comprising alifting bar, the portion of which immediately adjoining the arrivingmatrix line being vertically movable relatively to the remaining part.

3. In a matrix setting and line casting machine in combination anelevator transporting the matrix line to the distributing position,containing fixed ledges for holding the matrices in different levels, alifting device transporting the matrix line to the distributor, a guideconduit and lateral spring supports arranged at the beginning of theguide conduit to bear laterally against the matrices. V

4. In a matrix setting and line casting machine in combination anelevator transporting the matrix line to the distributing position,containing fixed ledges for holding the matrices in different levels anda reciprocating lifting device transporting the matrix line to thedistributer and comprising a lifting bar, said lifting bar effecting amovement to the right during its descent.

5. In a matrix setting and line casting machine in combination anelevator transporting the matrix line to the distributing position,containing fixed ledges for holding the matrices in different levels, alifting device transporting the matrix line to the distributer andcomprising a lifting bar, said lifting bar being mounted in the liftingdevice in a transversely movable manner and a stop arranged on themachine frame and engaging wit-h said lifting bar thereby shifting it tothe right.

6. In a typographical machine for plural letter matrices, leveling meansfor the matrices comprising devices whereby part of them are moved inone direction and another part in the opposite direction in bring ingthem to a common level.

7. In a typographical machine for twoletter matrices, leveling means forthe matrices comprising devices whereby those in the upper position aremoved downward and those in the lower position are moved upward to bringthem to a common level.

8. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator arrangedto support the matrices at different levels, the second elevator, andintermediate leveling means whereby matrices in the upper position aremoved downward and those in the lower position are moved upward, tobring them to a common level as they pass from the first to the secondelevator.

9. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator arrangedto support the matrices at different levels, the second elevator, andintermediate leveling devices comprising a guide having two beveledfaces to raise the lower matrices and depress the upper matrices, tobring them to a common level in their passage from one elevator to theother.

10. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first or castingelevator, and the second or distributing elevator, the second elevatorbeing formed with a portion in contiguity to the first elevator toreceive the matrices therefrom, and the said portion being independentlyand relatively movable to locate it in correct receiving position.

11. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator, thesecond elevator, and the intermediate conduit, the said conduit beingprovided with yielding supports to bear laterally against the matricesin their passage through the conduit.

12. In a linotype machine, the second or distributing elevator providedwith means to support the matrices, the said supporting means beingmounted so as to be relatively movable endwise in opposite directions totheir receiving and delivering positions respectively.

13. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator, andthe reciprocable second elevator provided with means to receive thematrices therefrom, the said means being mounted so as to be relativelymovable in an endwise direction, with a fixed stop to engage and movesaid means into proper receiving position with relation to the firstelevator.

In witness whereof I hereunder set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

HEINRICH DEGENER. l/Vitnesses:

HENRY HASPER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

